International Law Scholars Urge District Court to Reverse Cholera Dismissal

The United Nations (UN) is directly responsible for the catastrophic cholera epidemic in Haiti, although it denies accountability. In January 2015, a NY District Court judge dismissed the cholera case against the UN. Twenty-two international law scholars, including the author, have signed the following Amicus Brief in support of IJDH’s appeal.

BRIEF OF INTERNATIONAL LAW SCHOLARS AND PRACTITIONERS AS AMICI CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS AND SUPPORTING REVERSAL

Muneer I. Ahmad

June 3, 2015

INTEREST OF AMICI CURIAEAmici curiae 1 are professors and scholars of international law, includingthose who have researched, published and taught on the law of internationalorganizations.2 Several amici also work frequently with internationalorganizations. Amici possess expertise on the nature and scope of internationalorganizational immunity, the drafting history of the Convention on Privilegesand Immunities of the United Nations, the Status of Forces Agreement betweenthe United Nations and the government Haiti, and the history of third partyclaims settlement practice of the United Nations. Amici are therefore interested in ensuring a proper interpretation of international law as it applies in this case.Therefore, amici respectfully seek to leave to file an amicus curiae briefpursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 29 and Local Rule 29.1, in support of Plaintiffs-Appellants’ Principal Appellate Brief and in support of reversal of the DistrictCourt’s decision to dismiss their case. The proposed brief is submittedherewith.